Being a FAN: Texas Rangers and beyond for the love of a team

Being a fan: 

It is no secret that I love baseball and more specifically the Texas Rangers.  In years past I have spent up to 35 games a regular season at the ballpark.  I was single and it was my entire social scene for a long time.   While I don't have the time or money to make that commitment at this time in my life,  I plan to be at the ballpark at least 10 times this season.   When you consider the investment, 2-3 tickets averaging $35 each (sometimes more, sometimes less depending on my mood and bank account) plus parking at $15-$20 per game, the money invested is substantial and that doesn't even include beer, soda, and nachos or whatever else you choose to consume or not consume at the ballpark, none of it cheap.  A night at the game for a family of 3 can easily exceed $200 and that is before you figure the cost of the shirts you purchased to attend and the refreshments you brought to tailgate.  

But more than that there is time invested. even if you don't go to the games as much as I do, which is nothing compared to some people (who would probably not consider me a good fan, because I am not there enough) there are games on TV.  At minimum, 162 games a season which I devote my viewing life to from the end of March until whenever the season ends, sometime in late October if I am really lucky.   Do I miss a game?  Sometimes it happens.  I mean, life happens for all of us.  Usually, I miss part of a game at most. 

So when you are a fan, you get to know your team, the players and if you are on Twitter, other fans.  There are no rules to being a fan except that you love the team.  For me, I have a personal rule never to boo my team when I am at the ballpark.  That does not mean however, that I can't be critical of a player or players who are hurting the team.  When you watch a player struggle, usually you begin by feeling bad for that player and hoping they snap out of it.   After a while however, they just become a burden to the team and as such, the fans.   When a pitcher just can't find the strike zone he is frustrating to watch.  When a hitter can't hit the ball and kills an offensive drive, he makes fans crazy.  

There is an emotional investment in the team and fans are critical, even of their own players and you know what?  We have that right.  We can get mad when a player is hurting the team.  We get to be upset when a player isn't performing up to his billing or contract.  We spend our hard earned money and our precious time so we have a right to voice our displeasure.  It doesn't mean we are bad fans.  It is actually the opposite, we love the team so much that we are miserable watching a player who continually under performs and we don't follow the player blindly at the expense of the team.  That doesn't mean we won't be thrilled if/when the player snaps out of it.  That doesn't mean if, for example the Texas Rangers Shawn Tolleson finds the strike zone and becomes a machine, we won't all be cheering or if Prince Fielder suddenly manages to connect with the baseball and break out of his season long miserable slump, we won't all be calling him a beast again.  It simply means we want the best players on the field every day and maybe that player is Sam Dyson or Jurickson Profar. 

Some fans have silly rules, nobody over a certain age should wear a jersey.  Nobody should leave the sticker on their cap.  Caps must have the brims bent.  Yada, Yada, Yada.  There is one rule for baseball games: No WAVE!   Okay, so that is my rule and believe me, my husband breaks it just to annoy me.  The wave belongs at football games, end of story.  Wear what you want.  Wear it any way you want.  Although know this, if you wear high heels to a baseball game, I am going to laugh at you.  

Being a fan simply means living and dying with your team.  You don't have to be mean to other fans, although some of us are.  You don't have to be critical of players, although you have that right.  You don't have to spend  10, 40, or 81 games a season at the ballpark, although some of us do.   You don't need a large Twitter following to be a good fan, although some of us have them, it isn't a popularity contest.  You don't need 3 pair of shoes, 35 shirts, 8 pair of earrings, necklaces, handbags, bracelets, and team rings, although I have them.  (Seriously, I am like a walking billboard when I go to a game).  

Some of the best Texas Rangers fans that I know live in other states Iowa, California, North Carolina and Canada.  They love the team just as much as I do, maybe more.  They are fans.  They may not be the most vocal fans.  They may not be the most critical fans.  They may not be in attendance at every game or any game, but they are amazing fans.   

So even if you are a fan of the Astros, Yankees, or the hated Toronto Blue Jays, it is your team. Own it. Shoot, you may not be a baseball fan at all, that's okay.  Some people like football.  Believe it or not, there are some Cowboys fans in Dallas-Ft Worth.  I know. I know. Crazy, right.   We even have a hockey team called the Dallas Stars and a basketball team, the Dallas Mavericks, those teams have fans too.  It's okay to be a fan of those teams too, I am. (Not the way I am the Rangers but I am to a way lesser extent, especially on the Cowboys who I just find frustrating.) 

Fans:  Love their team.  End of story. 

Baseball Talk: Fandom is hard but baseball teaches you life lessons

Being a fan is hard:

Monday night on the way home from work, at the moment my beloved Texas Rangers were getting killed by the Toronto Blue Jays, a thought occurred to me.   My life would be so much simpler if I just wasn't a Rangers fan.   It's true.   The pain I have suffered as a Rangers fan over the years hurts my heart not to mention my head.   The memories of 2011 will never be erased and until/unless the Rangers make it back to the World Series and win.  That series will forever sit in the back of my mind as:  The one that should have been.  The lost chance.   The most heartbreaking moment of my sports life.  Being a sports fan isn't easy.  In fact, being a sports fan is hard work.  It hurts and it takes resolve.   It sounds silly but it is true.  You have to want to keep up with your team or you will be hopelessly left behind.  You have to work at staying positive or the baseball blues can take over. That's where I was Monday.  Baseball blues.

Swag

Then last night as I watch my first baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, clinch an NLCS shot, I jumped up from my couch, yelled "Yes!" at the top of my lungs, and started to cry.   Not sad tears but the happy tears of a fan who remembers the chances that slipped by in the past for the Cubs.   Just for a moment, I was that 7 year old little girl watching the Cubs on a Saturday afternoon in 1977 when they were hopelessly out of it and the Fighting Irish were on TV.  Everyone else was watching ND in the living room but not me.  Just for a moment I was back in my grandfather's bedroom in front of the little black and white TV with rabbit ears trying to get WGN to come in and listen to Jack Brickhouse hoping for a "Hey! Hey!".   Just for a moment, all the years and all the tears were worth it.

Double Earrings 

So this morning I got up and had renewed hope.  I donned my favorite Texas Rangers T-Shirt, doubled up on my Rangers earrings, added my other Rangers necklace (the last one lost it's luck recently),  added a couple Alex and Ani Rangers bracelets and I put on my lucky Rangers red shoes to cover up my blue and red toes and grabbed my Texas Rangers handbag. Dressing like a fan takes planning.  It is serious business!   I am only superstitious about sports.  I wasn't taking any chances.   I was as ready as I could get and now it was up to the team.

And leaving it up to the team is the problem.  You have to trust that your team is as prepared as they can get.  You have to know that mentally, they are going out there and giving it 100%.  You have to be prepared to watch the game unfold and hope the baseball gods have mercy on you that day.  You have to be willing to give yourself over to heartache.   You have to realize, even as much as you want them to win, you can't make them win.   You have to recognize that even with the possibility of a loss, your team has played like nobody expected them to play and done things that nobody thought they would do.

The Cole Hamels trade was suppose to be for 2016, right?   They were preparing for a starting staff of Hamels and a healthy Yu Darvish and Derek Holland for the first time in 2 years, right?  This team was hopelessly out of the race when the trade was made in July.   Everyone knew that they were done.  Everyone except them, Jeff Bannister and Jon Daniels.   You have to believe in your team. You have to go into the game with the thought:  This is the day Hamels pitches his best game of 2015.  This is the day Josh Hamilton sees the ball like he did in 2010.  This is the day that Prince Fielder breaks out of his slump.   This is the day that Elvis Andrus and Rougie Odor play flawless defense.   This is the day that Adrian Beltre hits a one leg kneeling, moon shot.  It may not be but  you have to believe.

Baseball is like life:

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Sometimes, with baseball, as in life, you have to risk the heartache in order to reap the glory.   Nobody ever finds love without risk.  Nobody ever makes a fortune without taking a chance.  Nobody ever gets the celebration without work.   There is so much about being a fan of a baseball team that reflects back on life.   There is pain, heartache, and disappointment.   There is joy, excitement, and triumph.   You open your heart when you love a team the same way you open your heart when you love a person.  It isn't the same love and it shouldn't be.  Baseball is important but if the Rangers win or if they lose, the sun comes up the next day.   If something happened to my husband, kids or mom, the sun wouldn't come up.  The day would be bleak.  Life would be without joy.   That is how it should be.  

But Baseball....is romance.  

Baseball is love.

Baseball is life.   

No really, the most important things in life, I learned from baseball.  

Source

*Whenever I expect a fastball, I get a curve.  That is life.  It is always throwing you what you aren't looking for.   But sometimes, the ball it throws is just the right ball to hit out of the park and that is when you have to swing with all your might and take your base.

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*Sometimes you have to throw balls back because they aren't for you.   It is possible to catch something meant for someone else.  Get rid of that ball as quick as you can so you are ready for your pitch.

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Never, ever quit.  That is the theme of the 2015 Texas Rangers.  It would have been easy to just cash in this season.  Yu Darvish's the Rangers Ace pitcher, had season ending surgery in spring training.   Derek Holland, their second best pitcher and Opening Day starter, left after an inning or two on Opening Day and wasn't really seen again until August.  Not the time to start pitching again but that is what happened.   Josh Hamilton has been in and out of the game all season, even before he was traded back to the Rangers.   Jurickson Profar hasn't been seen since...well, I don't know when Profar was last seen and his replacement, Rougie Odor wasn't exactly playing well when the season started.   They could have quit.  They easily could have quit.  They didn't.  They have never, ever quit all season.   You can't quit life either until the final strike is thrown.  Never give up because the next pitch could be the one you hit out of the ballpark.  

Happy Wednesday and GO RANGERS!!!

Baseball Talk: Welcome to the Crazy Train Rangers Fans

Welcome to my state of the Rangers blog.  From time to time I will drop a blog about the comings and goings and just overall feeling of fandom for my favorite boys with bats.   

 

Back in 2013 when Josh Hamilton returned to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington as a California (Los Angeles) Angel, this was the reception he received. 

Friday night he returned to the Texas Rangers once again a member of the good guys.

The fan reaction was very different.   During the weekend his bat spoke for Josh in the times Josh couldn't speak for himself.  He doubled in his first at bat back home at the Ballpark.  He had 2 home runs Saturday night and Sunday, a scheduled off day for Hamilton who missed all of spring training, he came in to pinch hit in the bottom of the 9th inning with 2 runners on, down by one run.   Can you say get the Walk-Off double and the party started, Josh?

When he wasn't hitting baseballs far, he was giving interviews about how happy he is to be back in Texas and doing what he could do on and off the field to mend fences with bitter fans. 

After the game I tweeted a couple thoughts on the game:

Turn Back Time ‏@Lauran0805  15h15 hours ago

Do you think Josh Hamilton is happy to be back in Texas?

Turn Back Time ‏@Lauran0805  15h15 hours ago

I have missed this so much. All last season we didn't have fun. Baseball...it's fun again.

Driving to work this morning, I couldn't help but think about my weekend. I am going to admit a lot of it had nothing to do with Texas Rangers baseball but you don't want to know how I got my haircut or fell on my bottom trying to pull garlic for friends and ended up in a mud fight with myself. You don't want to know how my friends and husband and I spent Saturday night dancing on our deck to music from his phone until 1:30. You don't care about my great chicken scare of 2015 when my sweet little Ries attacked one of my chicks (I believe she was just trying to play with her not eat her, to be fair) and sent the chick into shock. We thought for a good several hours the chick was going to die. She is perfectly fine now and running around the coop like a crazy girl. Ries, however is banned from all chicken activity.

So you get my stunning analysis of baseball. Yay!!

Alright, when Josh Hamilton came back last month, I wrote a blog getting my feelings out about his departure and return to MY Texas Rangers. I admitted through the course of my blog that Hamilton was my favorite Ranger before he left. I also admit after he left, I wrote a couple of blogs, buried in my archive somewhere, about why I was glad he wasn't our (Rangers Fans) problem anymore. Then he came home.

Here is what I decided on my drive in to work. Josh Hamilton IS the crazy train. The thing about the crazy train is that you ride it and get all you can out of it knowing full well it is the crazy train and could do a complete 180 on you at any moment. Josh Hamilton, for all his faults (and who doesn't have them?) makes baseball fun. Josh Hamilton, for all his goofy interviews, gives his team some excitement. Josh Hamilton, for all his crazy-blue-eyes-can't-see-in-the-sun, Jesus told me to stop chewing tobacco, way too honest and completely nuts comments, (It's not that I don't think Jesus doesn't want Josh to stop chewing, it's just that even if he told Josh that, did he also tell Josh to use it as an excuse not to hit the baseball? I kind of doubt that. I am positive Jesus wants Josh to be happy and healthy. He wants that for all of us, I am sure. He is Jesus, for heaven's sake!) gives fans hope.  

What this Texas Rangers team missed last year was fun, excitement, and hope. I am going to be honest here, I had none last season, just a lot of tears over a lot of injuries and this season was starting to look a lot like last season until Hamilton sauntered into town with his crazy train, tossed on his superman cape of many colors, and blew his whistle to shout "Hey guys, it's me Josh, it's going to be different because it's going to be just like it was. I'm back, all aboard my Crazy Train."

Do I think Josh Hamilton is the savior? No, of course not. However, in a season that started with Yu Darvish having surgery and being out for the season before the umpire shouted "Play Ball!" and included Derek Holland's return stint on the DL, Matt Harrison's never ending stint on the DL and a starting rotation that features Colby Lewis the seasoned veteran and always confusing, Colby. Just when you think you can really count on Colby he throws a whopper of a bad game or 4 and you want to know where the brilliance went. Add to the Colby rotation Nick Martinez, Wandy Rodriguez, Yovani Gallardo, and the newest member of Rangers Nation Chi-Chi Gonzalez.

Truthfully, I can't wait until Yu Darvish is back because I really want a starting 5 that includes Yu, Wandy, and Chi-Chi just because...come on, that is baseball name greatness. Seriously, Colby, Derek, Matt and Nick are kind of boring on paper.

So where does that leave my beloved Rangers? Right now they are playing very well but to be fair, they were playing well before Josh Hamilton returned so let's not give Hamilton all the credit. Unfortunately lost in the win yesterday was Adrian Beltre who injured himself on a slide into 2nd and will be out for at least 2 weeks.

The loss of Beltre is huge and it has spurred a lot of 'Bring Joey Gallo' up talk. Gallo, is a huge sensation in AA Frisco right now and the future of Texas Rangers 3rd Base. He also has barely been at AA and while he is tearing the cover off the ball, he isn't exactly Adrian Beltre playing 3rd, yet. He needs time to develop and become a well rounded player. Something more than a month at AA would give him so I am not on the Bring Up Joey bandwagon.

Here is where we stand today:

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
TEAM	W	L	PCT.	GB	RS	RA	DIFF	HOME	ROAD	EAST	CENT	WEST	L10	STRK
Houston	31	20	.608	-	219	197	22	16-12	15-8	5-2	4-6	18-11	4-6	L 1
L.A. Angels	27	24	.529	4	201	193	8	15-11	12-13	5-5	4-3	15-11	6-4	W 4
Texas	26	25	.510	5	233	234	-1	9-14	17-11	10-4	5-5	10-15	8-2	W 3
Seattle	24	26	.480	6½	186	204	-18	12-13	12-13	8-5	2-5	13-12	6-4	L 2
Oakland	20	33	.377	12	222	221	1	9-17	11-16	6-5	3-10	11-18	6-4	W 1

 

Tailgate 1, Baseball Weekend

Saturday:

Saturday the Mister, my friend Janice and I headed to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, (yes I know that isn't the name technically, but I refuse to call it the other name) for Tailgate 1.   The tailgate was moved from our original location, reportedly due to a concert at Jerry World.   Now I am all for country music but I don't understand the Rangers giving away parking.   Anyway, we found a better location in Lot B and confused everyone at the A&M tailgate when we showed up with 2 giant pans of enchiladas only to realize we were at the wrong tailgate.  They were very upset, not that we left but that we took the enchiladas with us.   

From Left top: Hubs, Ronnie, Hubs and Jan, Janie

Finally, we met up with our group,  a BUNCH of Twitter friends, most of whom I had never met in person.   Rangers Nation has some amazing Tweeples and it was so fun to get a chance to talk with people in person that you have been talking with online for years.  

From L top: the Gingers, camo hat, Darren, Jan and hubs

It was camo hat give away night.   We all look look great in camo so it was great! This is my 2nd Camo hat give away so I feel very invisible right now. 

General Lee, tailgate photos, Sam Houston, and more tailgating 

I ran across the General Lee and Sam Houston in my tailgating fun night.  The lady that owned the car was nice enough to let us take as many pictures as we wanted.

Indians Vs Rangers 

Oh and there was a game.   Unfortunately, our closer blew a save.  You could tell by the Tweets being sent out by the tailgate group that none of us had any faith in Neftali Feliz, for good reason.

Group shots I stole from Elle! 

I didn't get any group shots so I stole borrowed this one from my buddy Elle.  Thanks darlin!

A big thanks to those who took time and organized this event.  It was great tailgate with just a amazing group of people, Look at all those beautiful faces.   Honestly, IF I tried to name all the great people I met, I am afraid I would forget someone and be forever shamed so a SHOUTOUT to the whole of Tailgate 1 for being just super and so much better in person, if that is possible, than on Twitter and to all those I met and am following now on Twitter because it is so much fun making new friends! 

Did I mention the food was amazing? There was grilled chicken and pork, brisket, homemade salsa, so many great sweets from cookies to amazing cupcakes!  Oh and my venison enchiladas which went over very well, unless everyone was just being super nice. I swear I am going to post the recipe to the blog but somehow I never get pictures.   Okay, well I did take one...of the assembly line.  That's a lot of meat and cheese...and tortillas all of which were used.   

Enchilada Production Friday 

Sunday:

We decided to meet up with Kimberly, Travis (who we met Saturday) and Janice for a Frisco Rough Riders game. 

Kiddo and hubs

Beautiful park 

Jan, me and Kimberly with a zombie and a kiddo 

I don't know why this is the closest thing we have to a picture of Kimberly...and my hubs is doing his version of Zombieland.  I really think he got confused.  It was Game of Thrones Sunday not The Walking Dead Sunday.   (Sunday is our favorite night on TV.  Actually, it is the only night we watch TV normally.   We have no shows except on Sunday.)

Josh Hamilton 

It's hard to tell but this mismatched uniform belongs to Josh Hamilton who is doing his extended spring training now at Frisco. My guess is he will be called up by the end of the week so we wanted a chance to see him play close up.   If you look really hard you can tell he has on white pants not the off-white of the Rough Riders.   

Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders 

Need to give a big Kudos to the Frisco Rough Riders.   The organization is top notch.   The people are always so nice and we even met Teddy Roosevelt who was eating a hot dog but stopped for a picture with the kiddo.   (She has it on her phone).

Dr Pepper Park 

And the ballpark is pretty perfect.   Every seat is close to the action and the tickets are so reasonable. They even had a "Dollar Hamburger Inning" and it was Dollar Ice Cream day.  We are actually thinking about getting a season ticket plan for Frisco and then adding Rangers tickets individually.   The Riders are only about 15-20 minutes from out house and the game is so enjoyable.

Josh Hamilton homecoming part 2 

And you get a chance to see the rehabbing MLB players as well as the players who will be Rangers soon!  Joey Gallo who is an up and coming player and top prospect was playing 3rd last night.  It was amazing to get a chance to see him up close and personal.  He is huge....as in a very big dude!

The weekend was full of friends and baseball and we had a great time even if we did eat way too much and nothing healthy!  

Baseball Talk: The things I want Josh Hamilton to know

This isn't a Dear Josh Hamilton blog but it could be.  These are the things I would tell Josh if I could sit down and talk to him.  

I have been thinking about this all weekend.  Josh Hamilton coming back to my Rangers.  Josh said some dumb things when he left.  Even before he left the perception from the fans was he quit on the team.  Josh Hamilton has some fences to mend in Dallas-Ft. Worth.  

Josh was a great player for 4 1/2 years here.  He had the most successful years of his career in a Rangers uniform.   He was beloved by fans.  He was loved by me. He was my favorite Ranger.   

I am a good fan.  I try to see the best in players who wear the Rangers uniform.  I defended CJ Wilson when 98% of Rangers Nation hated him and that was while he was with the team. I tried to support Lance Berkman even though I thought he was a jerkface.  Turned out I was right but, it was the name on the front of the uniform not the name on the back.  I didn't boo him.  It killed me but I didn't.  I have never booed a Rangers player until Josh Hamilton's last game in Texas.  I was frustrated, the fans at the park were frustrated.  Josh clearly didn't care or if he did, he did a good job of pretending like he didn't. 

So we fast forward two years.  Hamilton's world is collapsing.   He has filed for divorce from his wife, Katie.   He and the Angels have had a falling out over his self admitted drug relapse.  He apparently wants to come home.  He  seemingly wants to play for Texas.   He has some work to do. 

First and foremost Josh needs to get his priorities straight.  He needs to quit hiding behind his faith.  He needs to stop making excuses for his bad decisions and take responsibility for his life, his addiction, and his baseball career.   That is the Christian in me talking.  I have a lot of faith too but Josh, at this point, comes off as a hypocrit of the worst Christian kind.  I don't know what his personal struggles are beyond his substance abuse but he obviously has problems.  We all do.  I can't make excuses for my life and neither should he.  He makes his own choices and nobody believes that God told him to go to California to get the big money contract and subject himself to the lure of the Hollywood life.   I don't think that was God talking, it sounds more like Katie Hamilton.  He made a dumb choice so say that.  

I don't need an apology from Josh for calling DFW a bad baseball town.  I don't care what he said.  I chalk that up to him being butt hurt because the Rangers didn't go after him with the crazy money the Angels did. The truth is, this isn't a baseball town.  It isn't a basketball town.  It is not a hockey town.  It isn't even a football town, Sorry Cowboys, it isn't.   Dallas-Ft. Worth is a winners town. Aside from a few fans who support the individual teams come Hell or High Water, the town supports the team that is winning. 

Source

What I need to see from Josh is to see that he cares again or maybe for the first time ever.  I need to see that he is going to give baseball 100% when he is on the field.  I think he plays hard but he makes dumb choices.  I need Josh to play smart.  Baseball came easy for him, he says so in his book.   Baseball probably came too easy.   I don't feel like Josh Hamilton loves the game.  I feel like Josh Hamilton plays because he is naturally skilled athletically and this is the game he knows.   Alright, that is fair.  He can make a ton of money playing a little boys sport but he also needs to respect the people in the stands who do not make a ton of money.   He needs to play baseball the way the game should be played and I am not just talking about hitting homeruns and catching balls.  I am talking about respecting the sport that has given him everything money can buy.  I am talking about making the team he plays for and the fans who cheer him, and Rangers fans will cheer him again, a priority in his life.  Josh Hamilton has become some kind of cartoon figure, spouting religion and talking in baseball circles.  It is time for Josh Hamilton to stop hiding behind his faith and start taking the heat for himself.  He can do that by simply saying he has screwed up publically and that he wants to get his act together....again. 

I want to like Josh Hamilton again but more than that I want Josh Hamilton to like himself.   I want him to be smarter.  I want him to play smarter.  I want him to make better choices in life.  For himself, for his kids, and yes, there is a part of me that hopes he manages to patch up his marriage.  Nobody can do it for him.  Only Josh Hamilton can babysit Josh Hamilton.   He does not need, nor should he get an accountability partner. It is time for Major League Baseball, the Texas Rangers, and everyone who is around Josh Hamilton to stop catering to his addiction, personal flaws, and private hell.  It is time for Josh Hamilton to grow up and be the person God wants him to be and the player fans deserve.  Any fans but especially Texas Rangers fans who stood by him when he fell more than once.  It is time for Josh to be responsible for Josh. 

So will I cheer for Josh?  Yes, I will.  Am I selling out?  No, I am not.   Did I want him back?  Not really, but the deal the Rangers have made is too full of potential and too low on the risk side not to give it a shot.   Am I going to dust of my now SHamilton t-shirt?  Probably not.  I will wear that to paint in but I can't take the S off and I am not sure I want to anyway. I prefer to forgive his stupidity when he left in attacking the fans and never forget.   Am I going to run out and buy a new Hamilton shirt.  Nope.  Been there, done that.   Do I want Josh Hamilton to be happy?  Sure, I want everyone almost everyone to be happy.  Do I want him to positively effect the Rangers?  Heck yes, this team is floundering with low batting averages and bad pitching.   Do I expect a lot from Josh Hamilton?  Not really.  

In the end, I am a good fan and I will be there to cheer but cheering a player and trusting them are two very different things.  Josh Hamilton lost the fans trust a long time ago and he has some fences to fix before he should even think about getting that back.  

And that is what I would tell Josh Hamilton, if I could.    

Lunch with Uncle Si plus Baseball and NASCAR

Texas Rangers

Baseball beauty!

It was a busy weekend.  Friday started off early for me, getting ready for the Texas Rangers Opening day.  There was of course, the required trip to get tailgate supplies.

Ready to leave 

I tried to find a new shirt to wear because I always like to start Opening Day off fresh.

All blinged up 

I had my baseball bling all working for me and Don't tell my husband but the reason I insisted on a blue diamond was that it went with all my Texas Rangers swag.  Yes, I, a 44 year old woman used the term swag!

At the most beautiful place for baseball

Happily, after driving around in my season coupon lot forever, I found a spot and we were able to hike over to see my friend Travis and play for a little while....

Travis playing his bagpipes 

Make that watch him play.   Opening Day is like a corn hole party that doesn't stop.   Everything is shiney and bright and the season is new.

Tailgaiting with my beautiful friend 

Trish and I went in together on a mini-plan this season for a lot of reasons, we both got married last September and our lives have become a lot crazier more filled with blessings.   We both knew getting to a ton of baseball wasn't as possible as when we were single but we didn't want to miss out.   Sometimes the husbands will come with us, and sometimes, they won't.   Still, baseball friends are a good thing to have and Trish and Jan (who I saw on Saturday at the race but I forgot to get a picture with her)  are great and supportive friends both at the park and in life. 

Rangers Royalty...yes we have them. 

The ceremony for Opening Day was perfect as always.

Proud Americans 

Check out that grass.  How can anything be more beautiful than a sunny day at the ballpark?

Flyover 

And remind you of your blessings?  Freedom.

Think we were boring the guys behind us!

We had a great time with the Rangers and while I had a lot of other friends at the game, I didn't manage to see them for one reason or another (yet, but I will soon).   Mostly because I forgot to turn the brightness down on my phone and my charge was out by around the 2nd inning so I couldn't text anyone to go say 'hi'. (Also why my photos stop at the start of the game.)

My schedule collection from Opening days 

Every year on Opening Day the Rangers give away a magnetic schedule.   My fridge is full of all the Opening Day's I have been to.   I am happy to say this was my 6th year in row at Opening Day.  I even have one (see the one that says LITE in the bottom right hand corner?) from the 1st Opening Day ever at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (then just The Ballpark in Arlington).  I have been to many games both in the old Arlington Stadium and Rangers Ballpark and have a lot of great memories.

Here are a few baseball favorite Memories over the years, most from Opening Day. 

I have made several 'Baseball Buddy' friends over time and spending Opening Day seeing everyone (when your phone doesn't die in the 2nd inning) is always a blast.  Oh by the way that picture 2nd from the right top is me with Chuck Morgan the Rangers PA guy.  That was a tailgate I went to a few years ago with some Rangers fan site. I don't recall which.   I met my friends Micah and Lacy that day, both had come in from other states. (Iowa and California respectively)  I am pretty sure that is one of my favorite memories....Chuy's with the girls and Colton our cute, young waiter begging me for my cupcakes.  (I made cupcakes people, what were you thinking?)

But this is my favorite memory ever, my honey asked me to marry him last Opening Day 3/31/14
I said yes! 

But nothing will compare to last year because I got engaged.   Hubby even remembered our "anniversary of sorts" this opening day.   :)

Duck Commander 500

Hubs and I-he is always so happy!

Saturday was my first NASCAR ever.   Okay truth time, take everything you think you know about NASCAR, if it was me then it was basically Taladaga Nights.... and throw it out the window.   It isn't all rednecks and most of the fans actually have teeth. I only saw one chubby guy without a shirt and not one pair of Daisy Dukes...sorry guys.   In fact, if you had taken the Jimmy Johnson/Jeff Gordon/Junior  hats and shirts off and put baseball shirts on I would have sworn I was at the ballpark....right up until the race starts and then OMG are those cars loud.

Hubs and kid

Texas Motor Speedway where the Duck Commander 500 was happening.   It is a nice racetrack with so much parking you wouldn't believe.

Texas Motor Speedway

Junior's Car

You walk around a lot...for hours actually and they let you bring a cooler in with ANY beverages you want.   Oh and you get to sit in race cars and meet your favorite driver.

Jeff and hubs

Okay, sort of meet your favorite driver. If Jeff Gordon actually walks around like that I would be tempted to pull some music out from the King and I and make him dance!

Finally he is smiling!

My family had a great time and everyone was all smiles.  We even decided that we will keep the 11 year old wearing the Danica Patrick shirt despite her questionable taste in drivers.

Gordon Shirt and Junior hat 

I changed about halfway through the day from my Rangers stuff (which there was plenty of at the TMS) to my Jeff Gordon T-shirt I got at the TMS and the Junior hat.  I have always been a fan of Gordon because I consider him a Indiana boy.  Okay, so his family moved there when he was a teen because of racing but that's good enough for me.    I picked Junior for the wise reason that, I graduated high school in 1988.  LOL that's logic.



Duck Commander

Willie Robertson 

So being the Duck Commander 500 means that your favorite Redneck family the Robertsons from Duck Dynasty were in full effect.   That's as close as I got to Willie, Korie, and Jessica (that's Jessica's head, Korie was to Willie's left).  We did however manage to get some autographs. 

Martin, Godwin, Si, Jase, and Reed 

Martin, Godwin, Si, Jase and Reed Robertson all signed my cap which I forgot to upload a photo of but I will include it later in my Favorite Things blog this week.

Reed, Jase, Si, and Godwin 

This is Si actually signing my cap...believe it or not.

The kid and Si 

This is Si posing with my kid.  We stood in line for over an hour and ate turkey roll ups waiting to meet Si and Jase!

Jase who is my favorite, except Miss Kay

And Jase who was really quiet.  Actually they were all really quiet except for Godwin and Martin who were very funny.

Gentlemen start your engines 

And then the race started...

The track is amazing 

I have video for this but the cloud is not wanting to import anything so you know, technology bites.

The long and short of it it, NASCAR is amazing.  Yes, there is a period of time in the middle where you feel like you are watching cars go around and around because, well let's face it you are.   The cool part is watching them pit and seeing who gets out first.  There is actually more to racing than having a fast car and that is something I learned by being there live

The other thing I learned is that it is a big party.   There are parties in the parkinglot that make Opening Day look tame.  There are bands playing all day both outside the concourse and in.   They have an opening act and everything, like a music concert.  Our opening act was The Casey Donahue Band which is probably right since it was a Texas race and a Texas Band.   They have these trucks full of souveniers and then there are all the give aways.  You would  NOT believe the free stuff you get at the races.   Truck loads of stuff from anti-perspirant to, BBQ sauce to spray caulk.  I am not even kidding.  I made the kid get me some free caulk.  That stuff is always useful!  

Okay, that's 2/3 of my weekend.  Sunday was relatively boring with me running erands and working in the yard.    I planted herbs in pots and I am really excited about that but that isn't as fun as baseball and NASCAR.

I would love to know if you have ever experienced something like NASCAR that wasn't what you thought it was going to be but was so fun you can't wait to go again?